New York takes extra time victory against STLFC; Revolution II, Indy also take division titles

The New York Red Bulls II moved to the top of the overall leaderboard in the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition with a dramatic victory in Week 2’s Division A Final on Friday night, while the New England Revolution II and Indy Eleven also came out on top in their division finals to pick up their first points of the tournament.

Three Things that Mattered

1. For a third consecutive night, the New York Red Bulls II’s Mike LaBelle was taken to extra time with Chile, and for a third consecutive night he came through with the clutch finish to take victory. Saint Louis FC’s Kyle Morton and France came out on the short end this time around despite a great effort by the STLFC goalkeeper to tie the game late against the eMLS loanee and strong week overall. The quality of the Red Bulls II’s game-winner, though, showed off again how LaBelle’s experience can raise the level of a lower-quality squad – Chile was rated the No. 19 team in the draw against France’s No. 2 – and see his side prevail.

2. The same was true of Division B, where the New England Revolution and eMLS loanee John Oliveira swept to a 4-1 victory with Russia against Sacramento Republic FC’s Justin Sterk and Mexico to claim the title. Sacramento got out to a dream start, taking the lead after only three minutes, but on this occasion there wasn’t any late drama where Oliveira was concerned. Instead, the Revolution II turned things around before halftime to take the lead and then pulled away, with Sacramento’s goal proving its only shot of the contest as Oliveira dominated in all facets.

3. Indy Eleven’s Connor Swatts completed an impressive week with the Cote D’Ivoire to take the Division C title with a 5-1 win against the LA Galaxy II’s Bruce Martin and Sweden, even with Los Dos scoring the opening goal of the game. The big question now for Indy is whether whichever member of their squad picks up the sticks next week can build on Swatts’ run and put the side in contention for consecutive promotions at the end of Week 3.

Around the Brackets

- Saint Louis FC was denied top spot in the overall standings, which it would have claimed with victory against New York, but the silver lining for the side is that if it wants it can have Kyle Morton back on the sticks next week, while New York will have to revert to one of its players in Week 3. With the chops he displayed, Morton could have STLFC in line for top spot this time next week.

- It wasn’t one of the night’s Finals, but the Third-Place game in Division B between the Charleston Battery’s Rennico Clarke and El Paso Locomotive FC’s Alexy Bosetti gave us the wildest game on Friday as Clarke and Greece ended up a 5-4 winner against Bosetti and El Paso.

- Both teams looked like they had the game under control at different points. Charleston ran out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, but then El Paso and Bosetti grabbed the initiative and rang up four consecutive goals for a two-goal lead of his own. Of course, Clarke then saw the pendulum swing his way with three consecutive goals, including a 90th-minute winner. Both these teams are in Division A next week, and it could be a lot of fun to see how they fare.

- There were plenty of goals in the Division A Third-Place game as well, but in the end OKC Energy FC’s Josh Snodgrass and Portugal ran away with a 5-2 victory against Hartford Athletic’s Kamer Nuhiu and Scotland. That left the door open for one of New York or Saint Louis to vault past the Athletic, but they’ll feel well placed in second overall after Week 2.